Jhum cultivation inviting environmental hazards
A vegetables garden at Gachchabil in Manikchhari.Photo: STAR
Jhumiya people have continued to cultivate jhum crops on the slopes of hills, leading to environmental disasters in Khagrachhari. The local farmers, who cultivate jhum for hefty gains, are mostly indigenous people. The unplanned and random cultivation on the hill slopes are causing manifold environmental disasters in the hill district like massive soil erosion, fast disappearance of forest and extinction of wildlife. Officials at the department of forest and agriculture extension said they are trying to create awareness among the farmers about environmental hazards, but they pay no heed to them. They, however, said indigenous farmers cultivate jhum as they are yet to be provided with any alternative work. Jhum farming on hill slopes is increasing rapidly as those are flood-free and profitable for farmers, particularly in the rainy season, the officials added. They said most of the Jhumiya people have no right to land and legal documents for land as they shift their habitats from one place to another every year. As a result, they have no permanent residence or right to land and always depend on cultivation on the hill slopes for their livelihood. They don't care about environment as they have no idea about it. Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) offices said the farmers have brought 5411.77 acres of hill slopes under jhum cultivation this year in the district due to favourable weather. Pranab Barua, sub-assistant agriculture officer, said 753.35 acres of hill slopes have been brought under jhum cultivation at Khagrachhari upazila while 839.8 acres at Panchhari upazila, 864.5 acres at Dighinala upazila, 1111.5 acres at Mohalchhari upazila, 494 acres at Matiranga upazila, 271.7 acres at Ramghar upazila, 172.9 acres at Manikchhari upazila and 889.2 acres at Laxmichhari upazila. Jhumiya farmers are expected to get 2,839 metric tons (MT) of crops and vegetables this season in the district, he added. DAE sources said more than one lakh farmers are involved in jhum cultivation in Khagrachhari and around 90 percent of them are from indigenous communities. Citing bad impacts of jhum cultivation, Matiranga Upazila Agriculture Officer Mohammad Tofael Ahmed told The Daily Star that such 'aggressive' and 'unplanned' cultivation usually washes away the upper level micronutrients of soil, causing massive soil erosion, adding that cultivation of jhum crop or vegetable on the same hill becomes impossible in the following year. The farmers expressed their ignorance about soil erosion and disappearance of forest, extinction of birds or animals due to jhum cultivation on hill slopes. Abu Daud, member secretary of Paribesh Surakkha Andolon, said jhum cultivation is profitable for the Jhumiya farmers but it is largely responsible for the extinction of wildlife and environmental disasters. “They need scientific and planned cultivation. The government should find out alternative crops for jhum farmers to avoid such disasters,” he added. Divisional Forest Officer Mohammad Ali Kabir said most of the unclassified forests are being wiped out due to jhum cultivation. It is also threatening natural habitat for birds and animals. TM Manjurul Islam, deputy director of Khagrachhari DAE, said they are trying to evolve alternative work for farmers to protect the hill slopes from soil erosion and other environmental hazards.
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